Originally Posted by flyphisher

Honestly Albeif? I wouldn't be too proud. In the litany of FedEx contributions, "we have put dues dollars to work......", not listed was the IPA shouldering the fight for 117. The IPA could have used FedEx/ALPA support in the law suit the IPA is now shouldering alone. Fred/ALPA did not want to be part of that fight. And so it was spoken........and of course came to pass.

I think the main difference...the rub if you will...is that at the IPA, we stand together and take on the 900 pound gorilla as best we can. That would be a litany of bullet statements taking pages to include death threats to union officials in getting the IPA started. That was just the beginning. The FedEx pilot group as a whole, by contrast, continually takes what Fred ordains. And while we were hoping that the FedEx pilot group would come together and finally wake up that times are changing, they didn't. And signed that more or less concessionary contract. Honestly, I do not view the FedEx pilot group as a unified group willing to stand up for themselves.

And the further, "rub", is that all the while, the FedEx pilot group might as well be wearing double breasted blazers. Most will get the inference I refer to; believing the elite has been defined. As reality passes them by.

True story:

In OAK probably 2 years ago. UPS calls for taxi and receives taxi clearance. Approaching the shared throat of the ramp, FedEx calls for taxi. Ground says, "FedEx, follow UPS taxi to runway........."

FedEx response, "FedEx will NEVER follow UPS. Taxi to runway......give way to UPS........." Stated with the combination of superiority, disdain, and as dismissive as can be. Insert the fairy tale evil witch of your choice to capture the tone.

The now completely flummoxed ground controller, "uh...yes...uh.....FedEx cleared to taxi to runway........UPS......give way to FedEx". And FedEx....unbelievably.......goes first to the runway. And UPS follows. I was the captain on the UPS flight involved, and professionally asked for the FedEx callsign. Noted the date, time and location, and contacted our professional standards to deal with it. And yet, somehow, you get the impression that the FedEx crew (probably the captain), smugly smiled at his coup. Totally oblivious of the continued arrogance displayed.

This goes further to the root of the problem. Coattails of overwhelming past benevolence does not insure that today is like the 80's and 90's. This contract was a milestone in the FedEx group actually standing together and saying NO to the whims of Fred. And the bar titched just that little bit unperceptively lower. The chance......has come and gone. And peak is around the corner.

The NURP issue was mentioned a few times. I think, again, the difference is that we at least stand together and fight for what against that abomination. The NURP dysfunction is a deeply held (whacky) concept held by the company. It's goes to the core of their (whacky) belief that they must fight with their labor. That they need some sort of tool that the rest of the world scratches their head on saying, "What??? I've never heard of such a system....is that even legal in a closed shop union??" And that's UPS. Whacky.

It doesn't mean we win....but we do continue to fight. We don't just reply, "how high?"

Being unified doesn't insure a win at every battle. But the unified battle must be fought again and again. Every day is another day of contract negotiations at UPS. Do the FedEx pilots even have a dim glimmer of understanding at the depth of meaning in that statement? What that really encompasses? It's a big reality here at UPS.......daily. "No Waivers, No Favors". A mantra repeated and practiced over and over.

You would be wrong to infer that UPS pilots hate coming to work. We don't. No different than any other airline in the proper professional work attitude while on the job. And would never entertain the notion of, "We will NEVER follow........." on ATC. I wonder what that FedEx captain's professional work attitude was that night.